Disposable cover for chair seat

ABSTRACT

A disposable cover for a chair seat is formed of nonwoven fabric material. A central body portion thereof is formed of a single sheet and provided with marginal edges secured to tie strings extending beyond the body portion in both directions. The body portion has a generally V-shaped symmetrical notch in a forward edge between the marginal tie strings, the notch being constructed to lie adjacent the convex forward edge of the chair seat to prevent wrinkling of the cover on the surface of the chair seat.

United States Patent James J. Cowen [72] Inventor 544 North Mkion Drive, San Gabriel, Calli. 91775 [21} Appl No. 47,458 [22] Filed June 18, 1970 [4S] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 [54] DISPOSABLE COVER FOR CHAIR SEAT 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[521 US. Cl 297/219 [51] lnt.Cl. A47c3l/l0 [50] Field olSearch 297/218, 219, 252, 229, 223,184

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 770,973 9/1904 Lippert 7. 297/219 1,304,753 5/1919 Dwyer 297/219 X 1,781,034 11/1930 Russell 297/218 X 2,227,180 12/1940 Falk 1. 297/229 X 3,117,819 1/1964 Kudriavetz 297/218 X 3,266,545 8/1966 Kruissink 297/219 X Primary Examiner- Francis K. Zugel AttorneyLyon & Lyon ABSTRACT: A disposable cover for a chair seat is formed of nonwoven fabric material. A central body portion thereof is formed of a single sheet and provided with marginal edges secured to tie strings extending beyond the body portion in both directions. The body portion has a generally V-shaped symmetrical notch in a forward edge between the marginal tie strings, the notch being constructed to lie adjacent the convex forward edge of the chair seat to prevent wrinkling of the cover on the surface of the chair seat.

PATENTED AUG 3l97| 3,596, 988

A TTOE/Vf 5 5 DISPOSABLE COVER FOR CHAIR SEAT This invention relates to disposable covers for chair seats and is particularly directed to an improved form of inexpensive cover for upholstered seats of the general type used by telephone operators, office secretaries, etc., for heavy-duty service, and where periodic cleaning of the seats is impractical or prohibitively expensive. This invention will be described in connection with an upholstered seat of the type now in general use by telephone switchboard operators, although it will be understood that this is by way of illustration only and not of limitation.

Upholstered chair seats, particularly those used in heavyduty service employing different personnel on a round-theclock basis, become soiled in relatively short periods of time, requiring that the chair seat be disassembled and sent out for cleaning or replacement. Fastidious personnel may refuse to sit on a soiled or dirty seat, but the cleaning or replacement operation is expensive and may entail considerable downtime" and labor expense in dismantling the chair to remove the seat and install a fresh or new one. It is an important object of this invention to provide an inexpensive disposable seat cover which will materially prolong the service life of the seat between cleaning or replacement operations.

In accordance with this invention, a disposable chair seat cover is provided which is constructed of nonwoven fabric material which is water repellent and fire retardant. Material of this type is used in paper" dresses and other "paper garments. A central body portion of the cover is formed of a single thickness sheet and has tie strings formed of the same material secured to the marginal edges of the sheet and extending beyond the body portion in both directions. The length of the tie strings permits passage under the chair seat and encirclement of an element of the chair structure, and also permits opposite ends of each tie string to be tied together. In order to insure that the disposable cover lies flat on the surface of the chair-seat without wrinkling, a generally V-shaped symmetrical notch is provided in the forward edge of the cover between the marginal tie strings, so that the notch lies adjacent the convex forward edge of the chair seat.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a disposable chair seat cover embodying this invention, shown in position above an upholstered chair seat and prior to being secured thereto.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the position of the disposable cover after being attached to the chair seat.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cover in position but prior to being secured to the chair seat.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the cover secured in position on the chair seat.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 5-5 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional detail taken the lines 6-6 as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the chair generally designated 10 is of the type now in general use for telephone switchboard operators. It includes a base 11 supporting an upholstered seat 12 by means of a swivel support, not shown. A pair of tubular metal supports 13 are fixed to the underside of the upholstered seat 12 and carry the seat back 14 at their upper projecting ends. The chair seat 12 has a smooth slightly crowned substantially on upper surface 15. The forward edge 16 of the chair seat 12 is convex, as clearly shown by the dotted lines in FIG. I.

The disposable cover generally designated 17 includes a central body portion 18 formed of a single thickness sheet of nonwoven fabric material which is water repellent and flame retardant. A typical composition is 25 percent cellulose and 75 percent nylon. The marginal edges 18a of the body portion 18 are encompassed between folded layers of tie strings l9 and 20 formed of the same material. The stitching 21 which Loins the two lagers of each tie string also passes through the ody portion 1 to secure the tie strings to the body portion. The body portion 18 has a generally V-shaped symmetrical notch 22 in its forward edge between the marginal tie strings l9 and 20. This notch is constructed to lie adjacent the convex forward edge 16 of the chair seat 12 to prevent wrinkling of the cover 17 on the surface 15 of the chair seat.

The tie strings 19 and 20 extend in both directions from the central body portion 18 and are sufficiently long to permit them to pass under the chair seat 12, to loop twice around the supports 13 and to tie their opposite ends together. In FIG. 4, the opposite ends of the tie string 20 are shown in position after passing under the chair seat 12 and around the support 13 and just prior to manual tying of a knot to connect the ends of the tie string together. The tie string 19 is shown after the knot has been tied.

The tie strings 19 and 20 are not wardly toward the notch 22. This permits the tie strings 19 and 20 to pass between the supports 13 and at the same time affords greater width of the body portion 18 toward the front convex edge 16 of the chair seat 12. The provision of the notch 22 adjacent the convex edge 16 insures that the cover portion 18 lies flat on the upper surface 15 of the chair seat 12 without wrinkling.

The entire disposable cover 17 is quickly installed and replaced with a minimum of effort.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I am no to be limited to the details herein set forth but that my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. For use with a chair having structure supporting a chair back on a chair seat, the chair seat having a convex forward edge remote from the chair back, the improvement comprising, in combination: a disposable cover for the chair seat, the cover being formed of nonwoven fabric material, the cover having a central body portion formed of a single sheet and provided with marginal edges secured to tie strings extending beyond the body portion in both directions, said tie strings being formed of multiple thicknesses of the same material, said tie strings extending for sufficient distance to permit passage under the chair seat and encirclement of an element of the chair structure and to permit the opposite ends of each tie string to be tied together to hold the cover on the chair seat, the body portion having a generally V-shaped symmetrical notch in a forward edge between the marginal tie strings, the notch being adapted to lie adjacent the convex forward edge of the chair seat to prevent wrinkling of the cover on the surface of tee chair seat, the tie strings diverging so that they are more widely spaced adjacent the notch than at the rearward edge of the chair seat.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the tie strings each comprise two layers of the material folded to encompass one of the marginal edges, respectively.

parallel but diverge out- 

1. For use with a chair having structure supporting a chair back on a chair seat, the chair seat having a convex forward edge remote from the chair back, the improvement comprising, in combination: a disposable cover for the chair seat, the cover being formed of nonwoven fabric material, the cover having a central body portion formed of a single sheet and provided with marginal edges secured to tie strings extending beyond the body portion in both directions, said tie strings being formed of multiple thicknesses of the same material, said tie strings extending for sufficient distance to permit passage under the chair seat and encirclement of an element of the chair structure and to permit the opposite ends of each tie string to be tied together to hold the cover on the chair seat, the body portion having a generally V-shaped symmetrical notch in a forward edge between the marginal tie strings, the notch being adapted to lie adjacent the convex forward edge of the chair seat to prevent wrinkling of the cover on the surface of tee chair seat, the tie strings diverging so that they are more widely spaced adjacent the notch than at the rearward edge of the chair seAt.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the tie strings each comprise two layers of the material folded to encompass one of the marginal edges, respectively. 